Tour of Britain Stage 7 – Kevyn Ista «I proved that I deserve a spot on a professional team»

The longest stage of the Tour of Britain with its 226 kilometers ended with a victory by Julien Vermote (Omega Pharma-Quickstep).  And out of the same breakaway, the yellow jersey of the overall leader passed to Dylan Van Baarle (Garmin Sharp).  Once again, IAM Cycling was prominent at the pointy end of the race thanks to the presence of Kevyn Ista in the successful breakaway.  Ista, who is out of contract for next season, perfectly applied the team’s strategy for the stage and served as a useful bridgehead for Sylvain Chavanel, who remains well-placed in the overall classification ahead of the double stage Sunday finale which will have a short time trial in the morning and an afternoon race around central London.

After the stage, Ista, who managed an excellent 6^th place just ahead of team leader Chavanel (8^th) and Sébastien Reichenbach (16^th), said he was pleased with his performance while not hiding his desire to find employment for the 2015 season.

“At the meeting before the stage we talked about having a guy in the break.  And I managed to be the one today.  I really burned the pedals for nearly 210 kilometers, and was happy to be of service to the interests of Sylvain and Sébastien.  I proved that I deserve a spot on a professional team.  All of my career, I have put my team’s interests ahead of my own.  And I am not going to change my ways now.  Sunday, I still have a chance to show myself well.  The half-stage circuit race in central London is similar to a criterium.  I have not lost the knack for this sort of racing since I have often raced the kermesses in Belgium.”